The Mississippi Delta by Mary Prater

photo by Deborah Carpenter

photo by Deborah Carpenter

Think hot. No, hotter. Think the sun brightly cutting through humidity high enough to stop most sunny days from happening. Hot humidity. Can you feel the oppressive heat closing in on your body? Your lungs are working now to bring oxygen out of the saturated air. Although water boarding probably wasn’t invented here, I’m not sure the idea wasn’t first conceived out this way. Yes, now we are getting somewhere, but where the heck have I brought you? Why to the Mississippi Delta, of course!  A land of history, poverty ripe for social commentary, full of music and juke joints, food and tales of old Southern grace.  A land of cotton, corn and soy beans. A land requiring a really strong air conditioner. This is where we have chosen to begin our exploration of southern culture. Throughout the month of June, we will be celebrating this gem of the south. Its history, music, food, art and culture. I didn’t grow up in the Delta, but my daddy did. And to hear him tell it, there is no better place to begin when attempting to understand all things “southern”.

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About Mary Prater

Mary is a feature writer here at PorchScene, as well as, the graphic department, marketing department, site editor, tech goddess, floor sweeper, grocery shopper, and occaisional gardener. We like to keep her busy. It keeps her out of trouble.
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